What works in Russia right now: the 2026 reality index
One table for the questions people actually ask before a trip or a move: which cards are accepted, how money gets in and out, what needs a VPN, and which visa you can get. Every line repeats a dated fact from our practical guides and links back to it.
Checked: 2026-09-22
In 2026 foreign Visa and Mastercard do not work inside Russia, Apple Pay and Google Pay are unavailable, and Instagram and Facebook need a VPN. Cash, a Russian SIM, a MIR card with a Russian account and SBP transfers by phone number all work normally, and about 60 nationalities can get a $52 e-visa in four days.
The short version · Checked 2026-09-22
- Visa and Mastercard issued outside Russia: Does not work — Declined at Russian terminals and ATMs since March 2022. The same card works again the moment you leave the country.
- MIR card with a Russian bank account: Works — Needs a Russian account and an INN tax number. T-Bank is app-driven with an English interface; Raiffeisenbank is the easiest for incoming transfers from Europe.
- SBP instant transfer by phone number: Works — Free up to 100,000 RUB a month between any Russian banks, with a small fee above that. Restaurants, taxis and kiosks take SBP QR codes.
- VPN: Works with a workaround — Outline (self-hosted), AmneziaVPN and V2Ray-style protocols work; mainstream commercial apps are throttled. Set it up before you fly.
- Russian e-visa (about 60 nationalities): Works — $52, single entry, up to 16 days, standard decision in 4 calendar days, applied on the official portal.
- Migration registration after arrival: Mandatory — Within 7 working days at your address. Hotels file it automatically within 24 hours; a private host files it at an MFC or post office. Fines run 2,000–7,000 RUB.
Cards, cash and banking
| Cards, cash and banking | Status |
|---|---|
Visa and Mastercard issued outside Russia Declined at Russian terminals and ATMs since March 2022. The same card works again the moment you leave the country. Read the full guide | Does not work |
UnionPay card from Kazakhstan, Armenia or Kyrgyzstan Accepted in most Russian terminals, but coverage is not universal — never rely on it as your only payment method. Read the full guide | Works with a workaround |
Cash in euros or dollars Exchange at any bank or official exchange office — the airport kiosk gives a worse rate. Arriving with €1,500–€2,000 covers the first two weeks. Read the full guide | Works |
MIR card with a Russian bank account Needs a Russian account and an INN tax number. T-Bank is app-driven with an English interface; Raiffeisenbank is the easiest for incoming transfers from Europe. Read the full guide | Works |
SBP instant transfer by phone number Free up to 100,000 RUB a month between any Russian banks, with a small fee above that. Restaurants, taxis and kiosks take SBP QR codes. Read the full guide | Works |
Apple Pay and Google Pay Not available in Russia. Locals pay with MIR Pay, SBP QR codes or face payment in the metro. Read the full guide | Does not work |
SWIFT transfers to the largest Russian banks Sber, VTB, Sovcombank, Otkritie, Promsvyazbank, Novikombank and VEB are cut off from SWIFT. Read the full guide | Does not work |
SWIFT through a non-sanctioned Russian bank Still possible, most often through Raiffeisenbank for money coming from Europe. Expect compliance questions and slower processing. Read the full guide | Works with a workaround |
USDT as a bridge in and out P2P desks match rubles sent over SBP with a USDT seller. Transfer is instant and all-in fees are typically 1–2%. Read the full guide | Works with a workaround |
SIM cards, internet and apps
| SIM cards, internet and apps | Status |
|---|---|
Russian SIM card (MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2) Cheap, sold on arrival, and needed for bank apps and SBP. 5G in the big cities. Read the full guide | Works |
Tourist eSIM bought before the flight Buy and activate it before flying so you land connected, then add a local SIM if you stay. Read the full guide | Works |
Google, GitHub and Telegram Reachable directly, no VPN needed. WhatsApp works partially. Read the full guide | Works |
Instagram, Facebook and several Western news sites Blocked or slowed inside Russia; a VPN is effectively required to use them. Read the full guide | Does not work |
VPN Outline (self-hosted), AmneziaVPN and V2Ray-style protocols work; mainstream commercial apps are throttled. Set it up before you fly. Read the full guide | Works with a workaround |
Visas and arrival paperwork
| Visas and arrival paperwork | Status |
|---|---|
Russian e-visa (about 60 nationalities) $52, single entry, up to 16 days, standard decision in 4 calendar days, applied on the official portal. Read the full guide | Works |
E-visa for US, UK, Canadian and Australian passports Not eligible. A consular paper visa applies instead: confirmed invitation, 7–20 working days, €80–€200 depending on the country. Read the full guide | Does not work |
Migration registration after arrival Within 7 working days at your address. Hotels file it automatically within 24 hours; a private host files it at an MFC or post office. Fines run 2,000–7,000 RUB. Read the full guide | Mandatory |
Moscow, London, New York: the same nine prices
The same nine everyday purchases in three cities, each in its own currency and each with the source it came from. No conversion, no index, no averaging — compare the numbers yourself.
Checked: 2026-09-24
| Item | Moscow (RUB) | London (GBP) | New York (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
Single metro ride How the figure was taken: Moscow: Troika pay-as-you-go from 2 January 2026. London: Zone 1 peak pay-as-you-go from March 2026. New York: OMNY base fare from 4 January 2026. | 75 ₽source | £3.10source | $3.00source |
Monthly unlimited transport pass How the figure was taken: New York no longer sells a 30-day pass: the MetroCard was retired and unlimited travel is now the rolling $35 weekly OMNY cap, so a month is a calculation (35 × 30 ÷ 7). | 3 460 ₽source | £171.70source | $150source |
One-bedroom flat, outside the centre How the figure was taken: Numbeo crowd-sourced averages, monthly rent. | 62 583 ₽source | £1 746.67source | $2 853source |
One-bedroom flat, city centre How the figure was taken: Numbeo crowd-sourced averages, monthly rent. | 118 714 ₽source | £2 287.50source | $4 368.38source |
Cappuccino How the figure was taken: Numbeo, regular size. | 292 ₽source | £3.98source | $5.60source |
Lunch in an inexpensive café How the figure was taken: There is no comparable "business lunch" line across the three cities, so this is Numbeo's meal at an inexpensive restaurant. A Moscow weekday business lunch is usually cheaper than this figure. | 1 000 ₽source | £20source | $25source |
Mobile plan, per month How the figure was taken: Numbeo's plan with calls and 10 GB or more of data. Plan sizes are not identical between countries. | 699 ₽source | £12.12source | $65.22source |
Home internet, per month How the figure was taken: Numbeo, unlimited connection of 60 Mbit/s or more. | 745 ₽source | £32.48source | $70.05source |
Basic utilities, flat of about 50 m² How the figure was taken: Numbeo publishes utilities for an 85 m² flat (14 928 ₽ / £292.42 / $200.17); these figures are scaled to 50 m² (× 0.588). Electricity, heating, cooling, water and rubbish. | 8 782 ₽source | £172source | $118source |
See these prices on video
Transport
Moscow's $3bn Metro ExtensionJonny Tickle
Groceries
Grocery shopping for a week in RussiaNastya in Siberia
Everyday costs
Everyday Life in Russia | New Car, Family Time & Gas Station AdventuresHuffmanTime
Free pocket guide
The 2026 Russia Survival Pocket Guide
Money, SIM cards, apps and everyday prices in a six-page PDF built for offline use. Every changing fact is dated and sourced. Download it free — no email required.
- Payments in 2026: what is declined, what works, and the cash to bring
- SIM cards, eSIM and the apps people actually use
- Price sheet: Moscow, London and New York, each in its own currency
- Visas and arrival paperwork, with the source for every rule
Frequently asked questions
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Written by Vlad Lario
Russian in Lisbon. I read both sides and write down what differs.
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